BACOLOD CITY – A city government employee was shot dead outside his house in Carmela Valley, Barangay Zone 12-A, Talisay City, Negros Occidental on Tuesday morning, March 5.

POLICE secure the area where a city government employee was shot dead in Barangay Zone 12-A, Talisay City, Negros Occidental on Tuesday, March 5. (Photo courtesy of Talisay City Police Station)
Police identified the victim as 44-year-old Mike Lumawag of the Land Tax Division of the Talisay City Hall.
Police Major Karena Onio, deputy chief of the Talisay City Police Station, said the victim had just arrived home from school where he dropped his child off when an unidentified man appeared and shot him.
Onio said the victim managed to run towards the kitchen of his house but the gunman chased and shot him again.
Lumawag succumbed to multiple bullet wounds.
Recovered from the crime scene were six fired bullets of an unknown firearm.
Onio said they are probing if the incident could be work-related or if someone had grudges against him.
He said they have no lead yet on the identity of the perpetrator but she assured that they will continue to investigate the incident.
She said that they will coordinate with nearby establishments to check if closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras recorded the suspect.
In a statement, Mayor Neil Lizares condoled with the victim’s family and said that he is one with them in seeking justice for his death.
Lizares said police has started the investigation to bring this unfortunate incident to justice. “I trust that our law enforcers adhere to their sworn duty to serve and protect the people,” he added.
“Today proves to be a sad day to the ranks of our city hall employees. This morning, I was surprised to know that one of our hardworking city hall employees was a victim of a shooting incident just outside his home,” Lizares said.
“This kind of senseless killing and similar actions that pose threats to the Talisaynons have no place in our community,” he added.
Lizares urged people who have information about the incident to cooperate with the police and bring justice to the victim.
He reminded the people of Talisay to be vigilant, to be observant, and to help each other to keep their communities safe.